MEPs are today [5 June] defending a key parliamentary vote to merge two of their October parliamentary sessions into one week in Strasbourg to save costs at a public hearing in the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.
 
MEPs are forced by EU governments to meet for 12 sessions each year in Strasbourg but on 9 March 2011, they voted by 357-253 to change their parliamentary calendar. The governments of France and Luxembourg - where part of Parliament's administrative staff are located - contested this vote. A final judgment is expected this autumn:
 
ALDE MEP Edward McMillan-Scott (UK, Liberal Democrats), a European Parliament Vice-President and co-chair of the Single Seat campaign, who last year published an extensive report 'A Tale of Two Cities' to highlight the issue, commented:

"The European Parliament's principal base of activity is in Brussels, now the administrative and political centre of the EU. The additional cost of meeting in Strasbourg is about €180 million and 19,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. Since last year MEPs have consistently voted by large majorities for a Single Seat to cut costs and this case is a step on the way."

"MEPs should be able to decide when and where they meet. MEPs have the power of co-decision in almost all areas of legislation with EU ministers, yet cannot decide on this question. It is time for a change." 
 
 
ENDS
 
Note to editors:

More information on the Single Seat campaign can be found here:
http://www.singleseat.eu/

The 'A Tale of Two Cities' report can be found here: http://www.brusselsstrasbourgstudy.eu/resources/A+Tale+of+Two+Cities.pdf

ALDE MEP Alexander Alvaro (Germany, FDP), co-chair of Single Seat and another Vice-President of the European Parliament, added: